Newcastle man films looters during London riots

By Jeannette McMahon (online producer )

The latest from the UK is that the first two people convicted over the looting and violence sweeping England have already been jailed, with police hailing the "swift justice". Many others have been appearing in court. Meanwhile, a Newcastle man living in one of the London areas affected by riots filmed the looting at close quarters. Brendan Gosling, from Cardiff, told 1233's Aaron Kearney of his experiences.

The two men were jailed in Manchester, where police have cracked down hard on the violence that broke out there, arresting more than 100 looters.

In London, rioters are also appearing in courts, with more than 1000 people arrested throughout the country.

Holding cells and jails were reportedly full to capacity, and magistrates were sitting through the night to clear the backlog.

Among the first group to come before the courts were a graphic designer, primary school assistant and organic chef, raising doubts about earlier assumptions that most of the rioters were the poverty-stricken unemployed.

As police regained control of English cities, the Prime Minister David Cameron warned that they would be able to use rubber bullets and water cannon against rioters.

Meanwhile, volunteers in London and other centres have used social media to rally hundreds of people into cleaning crews, brandishiing brooms to help clear the streets of broken glass and debris.

In Birmingham, a father spoke of his grief at being unable to save his dying son, who was run down with two other men as they attempted to defend their neighbourhood.

All three were killed, and a 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The riots began in London after a protest over a police shooting spiralled out of control, and soon spread to a number of northern cities.

The violence in the north followed a similar pattern to that in London, with gangs of youths covering their faces and smashing their way into shops to steal whatever they could find, as well as torching buildings and vehicles.